Today ANSTO announced new researcher fellowship positions worth up to $A250 000 per annum. They are intended to attract top international researchers to coincide with the commissioning of its new OPAL reactor and state-of-the-art neutron beam instruments, expected to be one of top three facilities of its kind in the world.
ANSTO’s Executive Director, Dr Ian Smith, said it was the first time fellowships at this level had been introduced at ANSTO and they were a milestone in the implementation of the organisation’s five-year strategic directions, published last year.
“The first of our four strategic directions is to deliver excellence in nuclear science and technology and to do this we need to attract new blood that can build research teams and raise the visibility of our research,” said Dr Smith.
“We are offering two fellowships, Distinguished Researcher and Senior Researcher,” he said. “We are advertising around Australia and overseas for Distinguished Researchers while the Senior Researcher position aims to open new opportunities to mid-career scientists who are already with us.
“We will welcome applications from top level scientists from around the world for the Distinguished Researcher Fellowships, although having Australian citizenship is helpful,” explained Dr Smith. “These fellowships are similar to Federation Fellowships both in the level of remuneration offered and in perhaps attracting top Australian researchers back from overseas but with assured research project funding.
“The Distinguished Researcher Fellowships will bring significant scientific leadership to ANSTO’s research programs,” he said. “All applicants have to demonstrate international scientific leadership and be committed to building the excellence of our research.”
Distinguished Researcher Fellowships are for five years with an option to renew, and come with an annual discretionary budget of a minimum of $A250 000.
ANSTO has targeted four areas for the Distinguished Researcher Fellowships: neutron and X-ray scattering in biology, physics, chemistry, materials science, engineering and earth science; isotopic techniques for understanding of environmental processes; radiopharmaceuticals for molecular imaging in neuroscience, oncology and cardiology; and materials for advanced nuclear fuel cycles.
The Senior Researcher Fellowships are an important aspect of staff development for ANSTO researchers, allowing them to develop and demonstrate their leadership potential.
“Our recently completed research quality exercise gave us crucial insights into the areas we should target,” Dr Smith concluded.
Published: 09/08/2006